Couple waterskis together for more than 50 years

Harry and Artis Price pose in their ski boat near their home, in DeLeon Springs recently

News-Journal/PETER BAUER

EDUCATION WRITER

Published: Sunday, December 2, 2012 at 5:37 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, December 2, 2012 at 5:37 p.m.

DAYTONA BEACH — Love of water has been a common bond in Harry and Artis Price's lives from the day they first met on a diving board more than 50 years ago.

The Prices of DeLeon Springs — Harry, 85, and Artis, 82 — have competed in more national water ski competitions than any other man or woman, according to USA Water Ski. That's 53 national competitions for Harry and 52 for Artis.

They both again broke records and won titles recently in various events in their age division at the national championships in West Palm Beach.

Their love story began when he was giving diving instructions in Illinois and was asked to give lessons to an English teacher. She wanted to teach high school swimming because she had been on the swim team at Purdue University when in college but didn't know how to dive.

"Don't saddle me with some old English teacher," Price recalls saying.

The young teacher was assigned to another coach. Then, one day while Harry Price was on the diving board, "climbing up the back was my future wife."

"He tried not to meet me," she joked.

"I didn't tell her for years that 'I'm the guy who refused to teach you,' " he laughed.

But before they married 54 years ago, Price, now a retired physician, taught his wife to water ski, and it has been a combined passion ever since.

Together, they have won more than 130 national gold medals since the 1960s.

At their home in DeLeon Springs, a glass cabinet displays more than 50 of their trophies and plaques and a wall in their home has many of their medals. Other awards and medals have been donated to the American Water Ski Educational Foundation Hall of Fame and Museum in Polk City.

The couple, who celebrated their wedding anniversary last week, practice during the winter months every other day on Lake Caraway, where they live, as they prepare for the spring season. They also cross train on equipment twice a week at Green Acres, a sports medicine facility in Daytona Beach.

They are both Award of Distinction recipients, which are on display at the American Water Ski Educational Foundation Hall of Fame and Museum, for "extraordinary contributions" to the sport.

"It doesn't seem like it would be nationals without seeing them on the water competing and hanging out with the other skiers," said Scott Atkinson, director of communications for USA Water Ski, the national governing body for water skiing in the United States. "What they have accomplished over the years is tremendous. It's incredible they have such positive energy and everyone just loves seeing them at the events."

Atkinson said the Prices were the oldest individuals competing in the nationals this year.

The Prices have also competed and won in world competitions in other countries over the years and have performed at exhibition shows on and off the past 50 years, including at the former Cypress Gardens.

"We meet a lot of other athletes. It's a nice group of people who come from all over the United States," Harry Price said about the national competitions.

Why do they love water skiing so much: "It keeps us healthy," Harry Price said.

"And it's fun and it's good exercise," his wife replied.

Artis Price said she feels "exhilarated" when she's water skiing and her husband joked that he feels "exhilarated and then in the end tired."

Harry Price started skiing in 1939. He would make his own skis out of wood, he said. They started coming to Florida to practice about 50 years ago before moving to DeLeon Springs in 1999. Previously, they would stay with Bob and Willa Cook, who is in the Water Ski Hall of Fame and was a prima ballerina on the ski team at Cypress Gardens.

"I think it's wonderful they are still skiing," said Willa Cook, who runs the Holiday House restaurant in DeLand.

Harry Price also has his own company, Diamond Productions, and does video for various groups and area museums. His wife does the editing.

He's interviewed everyone in the Water Ski Hall of Fame and videos are played at the museum. A person can qualify for the Hall of Fame when they retire, but the Prices say "we hope never to retire."

"I think they are very dedicated to the sport not only in water skiing and participating but in other efforts," said Carole Lowe, executive director of the American Water Ski Educational Foundation. "They are always willing to do anything you would ask them to do."

Their daughter, Kathryn Price, who also has medals from national competitions, said the family trained and traveled to tournaments together.

"I grew up on the water. When I was a little baby, I rode in the boat with them. As soon as I could stand up I learned to ski and as soon as I was old enough to see over the dashboard I drove the boat," she said.

The secret to a healthy life, Artis Price said, is "exercise and a good diet and a positive attitude."

They both have been vegetarians for about 30 years.

When it comes to marriage, the secret is "to learn to say, 'Yes, dear,' " Harry Price laughed.

"No, that's not it," Artis chimed in.

"We have a cooperative marriage. There's no secret (to marriage). You just work at marriage," he commented.

"You listen to and respect each other and try to drive the boat well," she laughed, referring to her driving the boat when her husband practices and vice versa.

"It's nice to have a common interest like skiing," her husband replied.

<p>DAYTONA BEACH &mdash; Love of water has been a common bond in Harry and Artis Price's lives from the day they first met on a diving board more than 50 years ago. </p><p>The Prices of DeLeon Springs &mdash; Harry, 85, and Artis, 82 &mdash; have competed in more national water ski competitions than any other man or woman, according to USA Water Ski. That's 53 national competitions for Harry and 52 for Artis. </p><p>They both again broke records and won titles recently in various events in their age division at the national championships in West Palm Beach. </p><p>Their love story began when he was giving diving instructions in Illinois and was asked to give lessons to an English teacher. She wanted to teach high school swimming because she had been on the swim team at Purdue University when in college but didn't know how to dive. </p><p>"Don't saddle me with some old English teacher," Price recalls saying. </p><p>The young teacher was assigned to another coach. Then, one day while Harry Price was on the diving board, "climbing up the back was my future wife." </p><p>"He tried not to meet me," she joked. </p><p>"I didn't tell her for years that 'I'm the guy who refused to teach you,' " he laughed. </p><p>But before they married 54 years ago, Price, now a retired physician, taught his wife to water ski, and it has been a combined passion ever since. </p><p>Together, they have won more than 130 national gold medals since the 1960s. </p><p>At their home in DeLeon Springs, a glass cabinet displays more than 50 of their trophies and plaques and a wall in their home has many of their medals. Other awards and medals have been donated to the American Water Ski Educational Foundation Hall of Fame and Museum in Polk City. </p><p>The couple, who celebrated their wedding anniversary last week, practice during the winter months every other day on Lake Caraway, where they live, as they prepare for the spring season. They also cross train on equipment twice a week at Green Acres, a sports medicine facility in Daytona Beach. </p><p>They are both Award of Distinction recipients, which are on display at the American Water Ski Educational Foundation Hall of Fame and Museum, for "extraordinary contributions" to the sport. </p><p>"It doesn't seem like it would be nationals without seeing them on the water competing and hanging out with the other skiers," said Scott Atkinson, director of communications for USA Water Ski, the national governing body for water skiing in the United States. "What they have accomplished over the years is tremendous. It's incredible they have such positive energy and everyone just loves seeing them at the events." </p><p>Atkinson said the Prices were the oldest individuals competing in the nationals this year. </p><p>The Prices have also competed and won in world competitions in other countries over the years and have performed at exhibition shows on and off the past 50 years, including at the former Cypress Gardens. </p><p>"We meet a lot of other athletes. It's a nice group of people who come from all over the United States," Harry Price said about the national competitions. </p><p>Why do they love water skiing so much: "It keeps us healthy," Harry Price said. </p><p>"And it's fun and it's good exercise," his wife replied. </p><p>Artis Price said she feels "exhilarated" when she's water skiing and her husband joked that he feels "exhilarated and then in the end tired." </p><p>Harry Price started skiing in 1939. He would make his own skis out of wood, he said. They started coming to Florida to practice about 50 years ago before moving to DeLeon Springs in 1999. Previously, they would stay with Bob and Willa Cook, who is in the Water Ski Hall of Fame and was a prima ballerina on the ski team at Cypress Gardens. </p><p>"I think it's wonderful they are still skiing," said Willa Cook, who runs the Holiday House restaurant in DeLand. </p><p>Harry Price also has his own company, Diamond Productions, and does video for various groups and area museums. His wife does the editing. </p><p>He's interviewed everyone in the Water Ski Hall of Fame and videos are played at the museum. A person can qualify for the Hall of Fame when they retire, but the Prices say "we hope never to retire." </p><p>"I think they are very dedicated to the sport not only in water skiing and participating but in other efforts," said Carole Lowe, executive director of the American Water Ski Educational Foundation. "They are always willing to do anything you would ask them to do." </p><p>Their daughter, Kathryn Price, who also has medals from national competitions, said the family trained and traveled to tournaments together. </p><p>"I grew up on the water. When I was a little baby, I rode in the boat with them. As soon as I could stand up I learned to ski and as soon as I was old enough to see over the dashboard I drove the boat," she said. </p><p>The secret to a healthy life, Artis Price said, is "exercise and a good diet and a positive attitude." </p><p>They both have been vegetarians for about 30 years. </p><p>When it comes to marriage, the secret is "to learn to say, 'Yes, dear,' " Harry Price laughed. </p><p>"No, that's not it," Artis chimed in. </p><p>"We have a cooperative marriage. There's no secret (to marriage). You just work at marriage," he commented. </p><p>"You listen to and respect each other and try to drive the boat well," she laughed, referring to her driving the boat when her husband practices and vice versa. </p><p>"It's nice to have a common interest like skiing," her husband replied.</p>